Combination tire and wheel hub cover



March 1, 1938. G. A. LYON COMBINATION TIRE AND WHEEL HUB COVER Filed Jan. 2, 1932 FEW s? GEO/ye @5661"! [ya z.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,109,070 comma-non me mm mm. mm

coves N. J., a cor- Application January 2, 1932, serial No. 584.560

Claims.

This invention relates to spare tire and wheel covers and more particularly to a spare tire cover for application to a spare tire and wheel carried in the conventional fender well of an automotive vehicle.

It is the object of this invention to provide a tire cover for a spare tire and wheel which not only includes covering means for the exposed portions of the tread and outer side wall of the spare tire but also includes a central portion for disposition at the center of the wheel and formed for cooperation with the hub cap of the wheel carrying the tire.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there is provided a tire cover including tread and side portions for covering the exposed portions of the tread and outer side wall of the spare tire and a central disc-like portion, associated with the side portion, and having its inner marginal edge formed for cooperation with the hub cap of the wheel said disc portion hub cap and hub of the wheel.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustratesa single embodiment thereof, and in which Figure 1 is a side view of my cover illustrating it applied to a spare wheel carried in a fender well ofan automotive vehicle;

Figure 2 is an end view of the construction shown in Figure 1 with parts of the cover. in

section; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the inner marginal edge of the central disc-like portion of the cover as well as through the hub and hub cap of the wheel, and illustrating the manner. in which the disclike portion is of the wheel.

0n the drawing: The reference character ll designates generally an automobile tire carried by a conventional wire wheel [I including the usual central hub l2 having in cooperation therewith a conventional hub cap l3. This hub cap-13, which is well known in the automobile industry, is of the type adapted to be carried in the wheel hub or shell of a wheel and which is detachable to-aflord access to the interior oi the hub and to the usual bolts for fastening the wheel in place. Thesparetire llanditswheel II are disposed in the usual fender well I of the automotive vehicle. This tire and wheel is held in the fender secured to the hub. by the hub cap well by a curved clamping arm or shoe IS in engagement with the top of the tread of the tire as shown in Figure 2, which arm I! is mounted on the upper end of a rod l8 secured at IT to the apron of the fender II. The upper end of the 6 rod It has threadedly disposed thereon a clamping member or nut is adapted to be screwed downwardly on the rod It to force the clamping arm l5 into tightengagement with the 'tire whereby the tire is firmly held in place in the 10 fender well I. If it is desired, the clamping nut l9 may be suitably interlocked with the threaded upper end or the rod l8 so as to prevent unauthorized removal of the clamping arm l5. Further, it will be noted that the clamping arm 15 I5 is adapted to be disposed between the cover and the tire so as to not interfere with the smooth finish aiforded by the cover which is designated generally by the reference character 20.

The cover 20 includes an arcuate rim portion 21 20 for disposition about the exposed portion of the treadof the t This rim portion 2| extends transversely across substantially the entire width of the tread and terminates at its outer side in an arcuate side portion 22 for disposition over 25 the exposed portion of the outer side wall of the tire. The two portions .2l and 22 are integral and are each of a convexly curvedcross section.

Now it will be noted from Figures 1 and 2 that the two arcuate portions 2| and 22 together form 0 a split arcuate ring, the ends of which terminate at the mouth of the fender well I4 as indicated at 23 in Figure 2. These ends 22 of the split rim slight distance into the mouth the cover may be flexed over 35 when it is desired to remove the cover from the tire. It will also be noted that the ends 23 of the split. ring-like cover 20 extend past the half-way point of the tire, or in minim ed e of'thisdisc-like portion 2a is 55 inturned as indicated at 20 so as to have secured to it a rubber bead 21 (Figure 3). This inturned edge 28 and rubber bead 21 is adapted to be engaged by the outer marginal portion of the hub cap it so that the hub cap I! isenabled to clampingly hold this inner edge of the disc portion 25 in tight cooperation with the outer extremity oi the hub l2.

This cover of my invention may be readily applied to the spare tire by flexing its ends 23 whereby it may beshoved over and onto the tire into proper tire protecting position. when it is in this position the inner marginal edge 26 of the disc portion 25 will be disposed in proximity to the central opening of the hub I2 so that upon application of the hub cap ii to the hub l2 the outer marginal portion of the hub cap 13 serves to clampingly engage this edge 26 to secure it to the hub i2.

Now, it is of course to be understood that although I have illustrated and described in detail the preferred embodiment of this invention, the invention is not to be thus limited but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims. i

I claim as my invention :1

1. In combination in a spare wheel assembly,

a spare tire and wheel including a hollow central wheel hub and a hub cap in holding cooperation therewith, and a spare tire cover including a ringlike side portion for disposition over a side of the tire and wheel and having its inner marginal edge interlocked with the cap on said wheel hub so as 'to aid in centering said side portion on the wheel.

2. In combination in a spare wheel assembly, a spare tire and wheel including a hollow central wheel hub and a hub cap in holding cooperation therewith, and a spare tire cover including a ringlike side portion for disposition over a side 01 the tire and wheel and having its inner marginal edge interlocked with the cap on said wheel hub by being held between the hub cap rim and the wheel hub so that said side portion is centrally clamped to the wheel.

3. A spare tire cover for use in connection with a conventional spare wheel including a recessed hub and which is adapted to be secured to a support such as an axle or the like, said cover comprising a metallic sheathing arranged when in service to engage over the tire tread and having a front drum portion apertured at its center with anaperture adapted to be in alignment with and and on the same tire and wheel when uncovered and in use on an axle oi the vehicle.

4. In combination, a spare tire cover for use in connection with a conventional spare wheel including a central hub adapted to be fastened to a support such as an axle or the like, said cover comprising a metallic sheathing arranged when in service to extend about the tire tread and having a front drum portion provided with a central aperture adapted to be in subs antial alinement with and adjacent the wheel hu and a removable hubcap to fit over said wheel hub and which may be removed to give access to said hub, said front drum portion having its inner marginal edge interlocked by the cap with said wheel hub so as to aid in centering and clamping said portion on the wheel and said hub cap being constructed to fit into said covered aperture and into I the wheel hub so as to be used on a covered tire and wheel when used as a spare wheel and on said tire and wheel when uncovered and in use on an axle on a vehicle.

5. In combination, a cover for use in connection with a conventional wheel including a central hub adapted to be fastened to a support such as an axle or the like, said cover comprising a circular metallic disk portion provided with a central aperture adapted to be disposed in substantial alinement with and adjacent the wheel hub, and a removable hub cap to fit over said wheel hub and which may be removed to give access to the hub, said disk portion having its inner marginal edge interlocked by the cap with said wheel hub so as to aid in centering and clamping said portion on-the wheel and said hub cap being formed to fit in said central aperture of the cover disk portion as well as to fit said central wheel hub when said disk portion is removed from the wheel.

' GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

